Vending-machine.



C. P. GlFFORD.

VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED1uLY1s.1915.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

coLyMBM PLANouRAPH COIA'SMINGTUM, D. c.

UNITED sTaTns PATENT onirica.

CYRUS P. GIFFORD, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOI-IN J'. GIBSON, OF ERIE,

f PENNSYIANIAI veniamo-MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CYRUS P. Girronn, a citizen of the United Stat-es, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented Certain new and useful Improvements 'in Vending-Machines; and 'l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, 'forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to vending machines and has for its object the construction of a suitable receptacle for containing lflat packets, and mechanism adapted to eject a single packet and also coin operated mechanism whereby said ejecting mechanism may be unlocked so as to be manually operated.

rlhe features of my invention are herein-` after fully explained and pointed out, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1, is a front view in elevation of my vending machine, with a portion of the same broken away. Fig. 2, is a top or plan' view of the same, showing the ejecting mechanism open. f Fig. 3, is a front view of the same, with the lower portion of the case broken away, showing the ejecting and locking mechanism in section. Fig. 4, is a transverse section of the same, on the line --m in Fig. 3, looking downward. Fig. 5, is a transverse section of the same on the line ,2j-,1] in Fig. 3, looking upward. Fig. 6, is a vertical section of the same on the line a-e in Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrow.

In these drawings, A, indicates a box-like case, having a vertically sliding front, A',

and a indicates a coin-slot in the front A. Within the case A are vertical guide strips A2 and A2 which are in spaced relation to the edge walls of the case, and operate to guide the packets placed in the case. The coin-slot, a, opens into the space between the guide strip, A2, and the edgewall of the case. Nithin the case, A, is a horizontal plate, B, (see Fig. 3) which is provided with a coin-slot, Z), through which a coin may pass from the space between the guide strip A2 and the adjacent edge wall of the case. The plate, B, is somewhat above the bottom of the case, A, so as to leave suliicent space Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

Application filed July 16, 1915. Serial No. 40,262.

under said plate for the reception of coins which pass through the slot, |The plate, B, is also provided with a. slot, B, (see Fig.' 5) for the rpurpose hereinafter set forth. Upon the plate, B, I pivot, by means of a pivot o. ejector mechanism', consisting of a plate, B2, having upturned side walls b2.' These side walls b2`ar`e of a width equal to the'thiclness of the packets which the machine is designed to vend. Secured to the rear end of the rear wall b2 `is a flat springstrip C, which operates against the rear edge of the lirst packet above the one resting on the ejector plate, B2, between its upturned w alls, b2, and presses it against the front wall of the case to prevent the column of packets from moving downward when the'ejector is swung open as shown in Fig. 2. the back wallofthe case, behind the ejector plate, B2, is an arm, l), which .projects Pivoted to through an opening, @,in the rear upturned j edge b2, of the plate, B2, so that when the ejector plate, B2, is opened the free end of the arm, D, will swing forward ytoward the free end of the plate, B2, and force the packet resting on the plate, B2, longitudinally forward on the plate, B2, as shown by broken lines in Figs. 9. and t, and when the plate, B2, is closed saidarm, D, will be returned to its normal position, as shown by y full lines in Fig. 4, so that the neXtupward packet can move downward into place on the plate, `B2,-in frontof the arm, D. Tov

cause the plate, B2, to swing back into the case, A., after ay packet has been removed therefrom, Iprovide asDring,`E, (see Fig. 4), which is secured tothe rear wall of the case, A, so that its free end will press against the edge ofthe plate, B2. back' of the pivot, o. To `limit the outward movement of the plate. B2, l secure thereto a depending studpin, F, which extends through the slot, B', in the plate, B. For the purpose of preventingthe operation of the ejector plate, B2, until` acoin has been deposited, I provide a balanced, horizontally tilting, plate, G, which is supported under ythe plate, B, by -means of a pivot, G', which passes through ears on the plates, B and G, (as shown in Figs. 3 and 6) one end of the tilting plate,

Gr, is provided with an upwardly projecting stud or bolt, G2, which extends through holes in the plate, B, and ejector plate, B2,rwhich holes coincide when the ejector plate` is closed.

end of which is fastened tothe2plate,G,--by i means of rivets, h, as shown in Fig'ff, vand the other end of which is slidably supported by a U-shaped loop, it', with the extremity of said spring strip, H,projecting nearlyacross the coin-slot, Z), (as shown in Figs. e and 5); I also provide a short spring strip, H (see Figs. t and 5) which is secured to the tilting plate, Gryand which projects nearly across said coin-slot, b, andis in spacedfrelationfto thef outer end ofthe strip,*H,.and only sufliciently near=theretor-to catch `and hold a coin of the desired V dimension between the ends ofsaid strips, Hand H, while permitting coins'of lessdiameter to pass therebetween. f In operation, when'the receptacle h as been lledwith a quantity of packets, as shown in Fig. 6, la. coin of the proper denomination may be inserted intofthe slot, a, which coin will drop dewnthrough the slot, Z), and will engage the ends of the spring-strips, H and H, andthefweight ofk said co'in will cause the plate,`G.-to tilt, ,asshown'fby vbroken lines in Fig. 3, which will draw'the upwardly projectingv stud or bolt, G2, downward out of the hole in the ejector plate, 132. The ej ector+plate, Brisl then manually causedto swing'outward as indicated in Figs. 2, Il and 5, the studF, moving from one endof the slot, -Bv,'to lthe other,.and in its ltraverse engaging thefcurved spring-strip, H, and. moving it to :the 4position thereof Vshown by broken-linesin Fig. 5,-'which will withdraw the freeendfof said strip backward out of engagement with :the deposited coin, andl permit said coin toidrop intothespace underneath said tilting gplate, and `when the packetuhasbeen removed lfrom the ejector plate, B2, the springE, will close the ejector plate, andfthetilting plate willre-l sume its normalposition, iwith thebol't, G2, proj ectingintothehole inthe ejector plate, B2, thereby:preventinganotherfmovement of said' plate, until :another coin has been inserted, after whichrthe operation-maybe repea-ted.

Having thus fully my inventionfsoas to enable-fothersto construct and utilize the'same, what I claim as ne-lw and desire-to secure --by Letters Patent 71. rlhefcombination ina vending machine, of areceptacle adapted to fmaintain a-supply kshown and' described of packets in upright column, a horizontallyl swinging `ejector plate adapted to receive the -lowermostpacket, a vertically movable lock- 'bolt`, a -coin operated tilting-plate horizontally pivoted below said ejector plate adapted to control said bolt, means secured on said tiltingplate projecting into the path of and adapted to obstruct the passage of a coin,

land mechanism adapted to withdraw said coin obstructingmeans from the path of a coin when said ejector plate is operated, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in-a vending machine of a receptacle adapted to maintain a supply of packets in vertical column, a horizontal division plate having a coin slot there-4 ejector plate'adjacent to one endthereof, a

tilting plate horizontally pivoted under said division plate, `a lock-bolt secured on said tilting plate `and extending upwardly through coinciding holes in said division and ejector-plates, coin engaging means secured on said tilting plate, and means to disengage a coin therefrom when said Yejector plate is opened, substantiallyV as set forth.

4. The'combination in-a vending machine, of a packet receptacle, a packet ejector, a tilting plate, a lock-bolt secured theretoy and `adaptedfto engageand lock said ejector, coin engaging meanson said tilting plate whereby said plate may be tilted when a coin is inserted, `and means secured on said ejector adaptedv to engage said'y coin engaging means to release a coin when the ejector is operated,

substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l aliiX my signature in :presence of two witnesses.

' CY-RUS P. GIFFORD.

Witnesses: W. S. BELDEN, H. M. STURGEON.

Gopesofthi's.patenttmay be obtained -forlve cents each, ,by ,addressingvthe Commissioner of iPatents, Washington, D. C. 

